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Minnow and Rose is an Oregon Trail story from the Tales of Young Americans series. As I have been reading my way through the 20 volumes in this series, I have had the chance to step into so many unique moments of American history. Some familiar and some totally new and foreign to me. I am quite familiar with wagon train stories, and this one is a particularly lovely and hopeful story in that category.
“Her name was Girl-Who-Comes-With-Berries, but everyone calls her Minnow.”
Minnow was a tiny baby who grew into a tiny girl. But, she is an excellent swimmer who is always looking for ways to get into the water. One day, she just wants to float down the river. And, that is when she saw her. A girl her own age with hair the color of sunset and eyes the color of the sky. Rose came from the wagons in search of water. The two girls notice each other and each runs home to tell their fathers.
Minnow’s people are kind and offer to help the wagons cross the river. Rose’s people offer to pay their helpers in tools and other goods. The two peoples work together in friendship.
When Rose’s wagon is crossing the river, an accident throws Rose into the rushing water. Minnow dives into the water searching for the red hair and pulls her new friend to safety. The two girls are carried back to their people to be checked over by anxious parents. Later that day the girls meet up for a shared meal of berry cobbler and an exchange of gifts.
This story is short, sweet, interesting, and well told. It was a delight to read and would make an excellent read aloud. It would pair well with Westward Expansion studies or even as a go-along to Little House on the Prairie.